The Founding of Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain
Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain was founded in 1999. We take our name from Belfast’s very own Mary Ann Mc Cracken (1770-1866) who worked tirelessly for the local community all her adult life.
The school was formed with only five pupils. Community support for this exciting venture grew and in time more people sent their children into Immersion Education with us. However, the school was still without premises and indeed was above a chipshop.
Those charged with the long term planning for the school, Máirtín Campbell and Kate Clarke (who had two children at the school) approached a local Presbyterian minister to ask for help finding a home for the school. It was with open arms that Revd. Bill Shaw welcomed the Bunscoil pupils into the premises of the 174 Trust. The school now had a home.
The Bunscoil was growing quickly and in 2001 Máirtín, Kate and Dr Art Hughes (chair of governors) agreed that an approach to the CCMS should be considered. The plan was to have the Bunscoil rent two rooms in their local English-medium primary school, St Patrick’s. After two years, the long-planned closure of St Patrick’s took place and the Bunscoil was again without a home. However, Presbyterians were happy to help our children, throwing a lifeline that allowed the school to remain open in the premises of the 174 Trust. But for their practical commitment and deep interest in people, our school would most definitely not have survived.
We now have 60 pupils and are situated in an old, listed building in Lancaster street – on the same site Mary Ann worked long ago. The school continues to thrive. In April 2010, we learned that the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) are planning to extend our premises.
Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain’s school community has come a long way. We have overcome many obstacles ranging from a lack of funding to palpable distaste of the Irish language community but we stand strong today, confident in the knowledge that our pupils will in years to come form a central part in their community’s development.
Bunú Bhunscoil Mhic Reachtain
Bunaíodh Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain in 1999. Tá sí ainmnithe as Mary Ann Mc Cracken (1770-1866) a chaith a saol ag obair ar son an phobail sa chuid seo de Bhéal Feirste.
Nuair a bunaíodh an scoil ní raibh ach cúigear páiste. Le himeacht aimsire, léirigh daoine eile suim sa Tumoideachas agus cuireadh tuilleadh páistí ar an scoil. Ina dhiaidh sin, ní raibh teach scoile ann do na páistí. Ag pointe amháin, bhí an scoil os cionn sceallóglainne.
Chuaigh na daoine a bhí i gceannas ar phleanáil don scoil, Máirtín Mac Cathmhaoil agus Kate Clarke (a raibh beirt pháiste ar an scoil aici), chuig Bill Shaw, urramach preisbitéireach sa cheantar agus a bhfuil Iontaobhas 174 faoin chúram go fóill, féacháil leis na páistí a chur isteach in arás Iontaobhas 174. Ghlac Bill go fonnmhar leis an iarratas agus fuair an scoil baile.
Mhair an scoil ansin trí bliana go dtí go raibh sí ag éirí rómhór don áit a bhí acu. In 2001, labhair Máirtín, Kate agus an Dr Art Hughes (a bhí ina chathaoirleach ag an phointe seo) le CCMS féacháil leis an scoil a bhogadh isteach chuig scoil lán-Bhéarla sa cheantar, Scoil Phádraig. Fuair Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain seomraí ar cíos ansin ach nuair a druideadh Scoil Phádraig de dheasca easpa tacaíochta pobail, fágadh an Bhunscoil ar an trá fhólamh arís. Nuair nach raibh an Eaglais Chaitliceach sásta riar ar riachtanais pháistí Bhunscoil Mhic Reachtain, thairg an Eaglais Phreisbitéireach seomraí in Iontaobhas 174 leis an scoil a choinneáil ag dul. Achgobé a cuidiú a thug siad dúinn, is féidir a rá nach mbeadh an scoil ann inniu.
Tá trí scór páiste ar an scoil inniu. Tá muid suite ag bun Sráid Lancaster ar shuíomh ar a mbíodh Mary Ann ag obair fadó. Tá an scoil ag fás agus ag forbairt agus fuair muid scéal ar ball beag (Aib. 2010) go mbeidh Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlannaíochta Bhéal Feirste ag cur lenár suíomh.
Tá aistear mór siúlta ag an phobal leis an scoil. Chonaic siad gur mhinic an neamhthoil sa chasán acu ach lena gceart a thabhairt dóibh, d’éirigh leo scoil a thógáil a bhfuil a daltaí ag dul a bheith i gcroí-lár gach dea-oibre sa phobal amach anseo.